Update, 10am, Tuesday 10 December: The South African Weather Service on Tuesday issued further warnings and watches for potential flooding across Gauteng, Mpumalanga and surrounds.
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Original article: After persistent rain, parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga on Monday were affected by flooding according to reports from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) social media.
SAWS this weekend issued a slew of warnings for the entire province of Gauteng, and parts of Mpumalanga.
These primarily warned of heavy rain which could result in flooding.
Please be advised of the following. Keep safe. Stay up to date with the alerts and do NOT cross rivers. More rain still expected today (Monday). Flood alerts across Gauteng, parts of Mpumalanga. pic.twitter.com/96YNuSEm9c
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) December 9, 2019
Flooding reports were also received on Sunday, but the impact on Monday was more widespread.
At the time of writing, Centurion, Mamelodi, and Atteridgeville were among the areas affected.
Videos posted to Twitter portray flooded roads and swollen rivers. In Mamelodi, shacks are up to their roofs in water. In Centurion, cars have been swept away.
@SAWeatherServic @SAfmRadio @TrafficSA current situation at Church Street Pretoria, between Hatfield and Silverton. #RoadSafety pic.twitter.com/Dtyb3YvEtY
— Father of Azania
(@DrLTBell) December 9, 2019
Not much driving or putting for this week at the Zwartkop Golf Course!! Be Safe and Don't Risk moving through flowing water! https://t.co/D5OpMkTjUb #ArriveAlive @CityTshwane @SAWeatherServic @ReenvalSA pic.twitter.com/kIotkzg32V
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 9, 2019
More flooding in Pretoria https://t.co/yqVg0pE3jr
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) December 9, 2019
Some major flooding in parts of Centurion and Pretoria this morning. This is from Judy Klipin in Centurion. pic.twitter.com/DzYHOmWUbc
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) December 9, 2019
[My video] Centurion Country Club is submerged by the Hennops River. This is (or was) the 15th green, relentless heavy rain has wreaked havoc. @SAWeatherServic pic.twitter.com/w07Vu7FX1n
— Weather Whiz kid (@Themeteoguy) December 9, 2019
Most days we compare ourselves to other people. But here I am in my cosy home and 10 mintes away from my house,people have lost their homes due to this rain. Appreciate your life always. This is at Mamelodi, Eerste fabriek #flooding pic.twitter.com/2OnOjer5wE
— Barbie Girl
(@NandiShitiba) December 9, 2019
#TshwaneFloods: The one-way bridge in #Bronkhorstpruit is currently closed due to flood, so is R104 entering Bronkhorstspruit which forces residents working in Pretoria to use N4. #FloodSafety pic.twitter.com/B6nFUe49QV
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) December 9, 2019
A car just floated away from Centurion hotel …. pic.twitter.com/Np9bSeJ4ka
— Trouble
(@LadySayFuckALot) December 9, 2019
Velmore Hotel Erasmia. #CenturionFlashFloods pic.twitter.com/8JYjlLIE8t
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) December 9, 2019
“Approximately 70 guests” have also been trapped at the Centurion Hotel. Emergency services are evacuating guests by helicopter.
Military helicopters are now on the scene to assist with the evacuation of 70 guests stranded in Centurion Hotel due to flooding. All are being transported to SuperSport Park where they're well being will be assessed but at this stage, all guests are reported as safe and well.
— Centurion Hotel (@Hotel_Centurion) December 9, 2019
How much rain has fallen across Gauteng and Mpumalanga?
According to data by SAWS, parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga received close to 200mm of precipitation between the 2 and 8 December.
*Preliminary* observed rainfall data for the 2nd to the 8th of December. 100 to 200mm has fallen in parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga during this period. It will be higher with today's rainfall. pic.twitter.com/XzXbu2eDWx
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) December 9, 2019
More data, taken within a 24-hour period between 8 December and 9 December, explains why some areas of South Africa are under water.
Potchefstroom in the North West received 103mm of rain. Pretoria’s Unisa weather station received 96mm. In Mpumalanga, Ermelo’s weather office saw 97mm fall within this period.
24 hour rainfall figures reported at 8 AM SAST (09 December 2019). Some great rainfall figures reported. pic.twitter.com/kR4nUABxSv
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) December 9, 2019
SAWS stressed that the warnings currently in effect for much of northern South Africa will remain throughout today.
Areas under these warnings include the entire province of Gauteng, north-eastern Limpopo, the Mpumalanga highveld, eastern North West, and north-eastern Free State.
Please note that more heavy rain is expected in Gauteng this afternoon and evening. Showers and thundershowers already observed over north-eastern parts of the North West Province moving to Gauteng. https://t.co/lKOYa9PLTH
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) December 9, 2019
Follow the South African Weather Service for flooding updates
Weather is fickle and subject to change, so we’d recommend following SAWS on its official Twitter account.
We’d also suggest following the Pretoria Rekord, City of Tshwane, and Pretoria News for more hyperlocal information.
And be sure to bookmark its warnings portal too, where it regularly updates the advisories and more serious information.
Feature image: Andy Walker/Memeburn
